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Airliner crash-lands at Heathrow Airliner crash-lands at Heathrow
(20 minutes later)
An international passenger plane has crash-landed short of the south runway at Heathrow Airport after losing its rear undercarriage. A passenger plane has crash-landed short of a runway at Heathrow Airport after losing its rear undercarriage.
All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped from the British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing. Six people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped from the British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing. Six people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
An airport worker told the BBC that the pilot said he had lost all power and had to glide the plane into land. An airport worker told the BBC the pilot on the Boeing 777 had said he had lost all power, and had been forced to glide the plane into land.
All BA short haul flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and others delayed. All BA short-haul flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and others delayed.
The BBC's Angus Crawford said the worker, who was not identified, said the pilot told him all the electronics had also failed. The worker also said the pilot had told him all the electronics had also failed.
"He said he had no warning - it just went," the worker added.
BA refused to comment on the report and said it would not speculate on the cause of the crash.BA refused to comment on the report and said it would not speculate on the cause of the crash.
Not terror-related Police say the incident was not terror-related.
The incident happened at 1242 GMT, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India. His flight was delayed because of the incident. 'Enormous bang'
Downing Street said at about 1430 GMT that Gordon Brown had taken off. The incident happened on the south runway at 1242 GMT, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India. His flight was delayed because of the incident.
I could hear the undercarriage come out and the next moment the plane just dropped Paul Venter, passenger Eyewitness accountsI could hear the undercarriage come out and the next moment the plane just dropped Paul Venter, passenger Eyewitness accounts
The south runway is closed while investigators examine the scene - the north runway remains open. The runway was initially closed, but reopened later to take-offs only. The north runway remained open throughout the incident.
Police have said the incident involving the Boeing 777 was not terror-related. A telephone helpline has been set up for anyone concerned about friends or relatives on 0800 3894193.
The Department of Transport has launched an investigation. The Department of Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.
Rolls Royce, which manufactured the plane's two Trent 800 engines, said it was also sending a specialist team to assist with the inquiry.
Aviation expert Kieran Daly, from Flight International magazine, said not a single Boeing 777 had been lost in a crash since the aircraft was launched in 1995.Aviation expert Kieran Daly, from Flight International magazine, said not a single Boeing 777 had been lost in a crash since the aircraft was launched in 1995.
'Enormous bang'
Eyewitness John Rowland said: "The plane's wheels collapsed, doors were flown open.Eyewitness John Rowland said: "The plane's wheels collapsed, doors were flown open.
"On its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab."On its approach it took the runway too low, just missing the roof of my cab.
HEATHROW TRAVEL DISRUPTION All British Airways short haul flights out of Heathrow cancelled for the rest of the daySome long haul flights cancelledMany other long haul flights from Heathrow departing late, currently about 90 minutes in many casesThe scheduled British Airways flights from Manchester Airport to Heathrow at 1540, 1705, 1850 and 1940 are cancelled. 11 incoming flights diverted to GatwickFour incoming flights have been diverted to LutonFive incoming flights have been diverted to StanstedFor up-to-date information on later flights, contact your airline Latest on travel chaos HEATHROW TRAVEL DISRUPTION All British Airways short haul flights out of Heathrow cancelled for the rest of the daySome long haul flights cancelledMany other long haul flights from Heathrow departing late, currently about two to three hours in many casesThe scheduled British Airways flights from Manchester Airport to Heathrow at 1540, 1705, 1850 and 1940 are cancelled. 11 incoming flights diverted to GatwickFour incoming flights have been diverted to LutonFive incoming flights have been diverted to StanstedFor up-to-date information on later flights, contact your airline Latest on travel chaos
"It crashed into the runway, debris was flying everywhere, there was an enormous bang and it skidded sideways.""It crashed into the runway, debris was flying everywhere, there was an enormous bang and it skidded sideways."
Another eyewitness, a taxi driver, said the plane flew over the nearby M4 motorway "so low you would think you could lean out the window and touch it".Another eyewitness, a taxi driver, said the plane flew over the nearby M4 motorway "so low you would think you could lean out the window and touch it".
"It passed over my vehicle at something like 20ft and over the perimeter [fence] at 15ft before it plunged into the runway," he told the BBC."It passed over my vehicle at something like 20ft and over the perimeter [fence] at 15ft before it plunged into the runway," he told the BBC.
BA said the cabin crew had done an "excellent job" evacuating passengers, and that it would release more information as soon as it was available.BA said the cabin crew had done an "excellent job" evacuating passengers, and that it would release more information as soon as it was available.
A telephone helpline has been set up for anyone concerned about friends or relatives on 0800 3894193.
Chief executive of BA Willie Walsh said he was "very proud" of the crew and the Boeing 777 was an "excellent aircraft".Chief executive of BA Willie Walsh said he was "very proud" of the crew and the Boeing 777 was an "excellent aircraft".
Fernando Pardo was a passenger on the plane itself. He told the BBC there was "no sign whatsoever of any trouble until we touched the ground". "We train hard for incidents such as this, and all that training has paid off today," Mr Walsh said.
"It was so quick that you could not even realise what exactly happened. There was no panic at all," Mr Pardo said. Fernando Pardo was a passenger on the plane. He told the BBC there was "no sign whatsoever of any trouble until we touched the ground".
But Paul Venter, who was also on board, said he was aware of a problem just as the plane was about to land. "It was so quick that you could not even realise what exactly happened. There was no panic at all," he said.
"I could hear the undercarriage come out and the next moment the plane just dropped," Mr Venter said. But Paul Venter, who was also on board, said he had been aware of a problem just as the plane was about to land.
"I could hear the undercarriage come out, and the next moment the plane just dropped," Mr Venter said.
"The wheels came out and went for touchdown, and the next moment we just dropped. I couldn't tell you how far."The wheels came out and went for touchdown, and the next moment we just dropped. I couldn't tell you how far.
"When everything came to a standstill, I looked out of the window and the undercarriage was gone and the plane was on its belly."When everything came to a standstill, I looked out of the window and the undercarriage was gone and the plane was on its belly.
BA has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about friends or relatives: 0800 3894193BA has set up a helpline for anyone concerned about friends or relatives: 0800 3894193
"I didn't speak to the pilot, but I saw him, and he looked very pale, but there was no communication in the cabin.""I didn't speak to the pilot, but I saw him, and he looked very pale, but there was no communication in the cabin."
A London Ambulance spokeswoman said there were eight ambulances at Heathrow and six passengers had been taken to nearby Hillingdon Hospital with minor injuries. A London Ambulance spokeswoman said there were eight ambulances at Heathrow, and six passengers had been taken to nearby Hillingdon Hospital with minor injuries.
She could not give details of the type of injuries the passengers suffered.She could not give details of the type of injuries the passengers suffered.
'Dousing of foam''Dousing of foam'
Another eyewitness, Nick Gray, told BBC News: "There were some sparks as the undercarriage or the bottom of the plane actually touched the runway - certainly a huge amount of smoke coming up from that.Another eyewitness, Nick Gray, told BBC News: "There were some sparks as the undercarriage or the bottom of the plane actually touched the runway - certainly a huge amount of smoke coming up from that.
"It was incredibly efficient the speed that people got off the aircraft."It was incredibly efficient the speed that people got off the aircraft.
"There seems to have been regular dousing of foam on the port engine which obviously probably was the hottest one where the plane landed.""There seems to have been regular dousing of foam on the port engine which obviously probably was the hottest one where the plane landed."
Some flights bound for Heathrow are being diverted to Stansted and Luton Airports. More than 90 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow by 1530 GMT. Some flights bound for Heathrow are being diverted to Stansted and Luton Airports.
Manchester Airport said its BA flights to Heathrow on Thursday afternoon had been cancelled.Manchester Airport said its BA flights to Heathrow on Thursday afternoon had been cancelled.
John McDonnell MP, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes Heathrow, told the BBC that the incident underlined concerns about extending the airport.John McDonnell MP, whose Hayes and Harlington constituency includes Heathrow, told the BBC that the incident underlined concerns about extending the airport.
"This is a near miracle that neither passengers or anyone on the ground has been seriously injured," Mr McDonnell said."This is a near miracle that neither passengers or anyone on the ground has been seriously injured," Mr McDonnell said.
The plane involved in the incident is one of 43 Boeing 777s in BA's fleet. It is about believed to be about six years old. The plane involved is one of 43 Boeing 777s in BA's fleet. It is about believed to be about six years old.
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